Rule Proposals

Current Proposals Archived Proposals

All regulations enacted by the Commission are acted on at its public meetings held quarterly. The rulemaking process entails two public actions with a proposal stage and an adoption stage. After the Commission authorizes the rule proposal, it is published in the Texas Register for a minimum of thirty days for comments specifically pertaining to the rule proposal.

The Texas Register is a weekly publication and serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code. The Texas Administrative Code (TAC) is a compilation of all state agency rules in Texas. Commission rules are located in Title 4 of the TAC.

When the Commission has rules that are open for comment, they will be posted below with a link to the actual rule proposal with information explaining the rule. Comments on the rule proposals or rule reviews may be submitted to Amanda Bernhard, Texas Animal Health Commission, by mail at 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758, by fax at (512)-719-0719 or by email to comments@tahc.texas.gov. When commenting, please indicate in the subject line the intent to comment on the specific rule in reference.

Comments need to be received no later than the date indicated as the final date for receipt of comments. Once the comment period is closed the information regarding the proposal will remain archived on this page. If you have any questions, please contact the General Counsel at 512-719-0724 or Email.

Current Proposals

The following rules were proposed at the July 11, 2023 Commission meeting and are open for public comment.

Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease
Public Comment Period Open September 22 – October 23, 2023		 View Proposal View Summary/
Ver Resumen
Chapter 32, Hearing and Appeal Procedures
Public Comment Period Open September 1 – October 2, 2023		 View Proposal
View Repeal Proposal		 View Summary/
Ver Resumen
Chapter 56, Grants, Gifts and Donations
Public Comment Period Open September 1 – October 2, 2023		 View Proposal View Summary/
Ver Resumen

Archived Rule Proposals

Archived rule proposals are for reference only, and may not reflect current rule language. To review current TAHC statutes and rules click here.

Rules proposed at the April 4, 2023 Commission meeting
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease -update surveillance and movement requirements for Exotic CWD Susceptible Species, repeal and replace CWD Herd Certification Program section
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease - clarify CWD management practices, update geographic depictions of movement restriction zones
Chapter 32, Hearing and Appeal Procedures - Rule Review
Chapter 36, Exotic Livestock and Fowl - Rule Review
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Rule Review
Chapter 43, Tuberculosis - Rule Review
Chapter 45, Reportable and Actionable Diseases - Rule Review
Chapter 47, Authorized Personnel - Rule Review
Chapter 50, Animal Disease Traceability - Rule Review
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Rule Review
Chapter 56, Grants, Gifts and Donations - Rule Review
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures - Rule Review
Chapter 60, Scrapie - Rule Review
Rule proposed at the February 23, 2023 Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program Committee meeting
Chapter 42, Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program: Establish rules for the RVIP – View Proposal
Rules proposed at the November 15, 2022 Commission meeting
Chapter 35, Brucellosis: Remove additional brucellosis entry requirements for the Designated Surveillance Area - View Proposal
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease: Establish new and expand existing CWD containment zones, create new and modify existing CWD surveillance zones - View Proposal
Chapter 42, Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program: - View Proposal
Chapter 45, Reportable and Actionable Diseases: Add Malignant Catarrhal Fever caused by a ruminant gamma herpesvirus as a reportable disease - View Proposal
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements: Specify official identification for CVIs, increase testing age for dairy cattle moving into Texas - View Proposal
Rule proposed at the July 26, 2022 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis: Update information and procedures for the Trichomoniasis program and testing requirements - View Proposal
Rules proposed at the April 12, 2022 Commission meeting
Chapter 31, Anthrax - Rule Review
Chapter 34, Veterinary Biologics - Rule Review
Chapter 35, Brucellosis - Rule Review
Chapter 37, Screwworms - Rule Review
Chapter 39, Scabies - Rule Review
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease: Update information regarding CWD management and the CWD Herd Certification Program - View Proposal
Chapter 49, Equine - Rule Review
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements: Modify dairy calf movement requirements, update equine language - View Proposal
Chapter 58, Emergency Response and Management - Rule Review
Rules proposed at the September 21, 2021 Commission meeting
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements: Update the disease list reference, clarify CWD entry requirements, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View Proposal
Chapter 58, Emergency Response and Management: Update the disease list reference, clarify other language and definitions - View Proposal
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures: Update the disease list reference, add state employee sick leave and family leave pool - View Proposal
Rules proposed at the June 29, 2021 Commission meeting
Chapter 33, Fees: Update language to recognize modern technology for obtaining CVIs, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View proposal
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease: Clarify, correct and update CWD management information, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View proposal
Chapter 45, Reportable Diseases: List reportable diseases in new Reportable and Actionable Disease List section, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View proposal
Chapter 46, Export-Import Facilities: Establish livestock export-import facilities reporting, recordkeeping, and movement requirements - View proposal
Chapter 53, Market Regulation: Remove specific brucellosis program references, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View proposal
Chapter 55, Swine: Update swine disease, program, and regulations pertaining to livestock markets and slaughter plants information, add Enforcement and Penalties section - View Proposal
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures: Clarify public information request name and procedures - View Proposal
Rule proposed at the June 23, 2020 Commission meeting
Chapter, Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease - establish CWD zones and replace Executive Order
Rules proposed at the December 10, 2019 Commission meeting
Chapter 33, Fees - Rule Review
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease - Rule Review
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks - Rule Review
Chapter 53, Market Regulations - Rule Review
Chapter 54, Domestic and Exotic Fowl Registration - Rule Review
Chapter 55, Swine - Rule Review
Chapter 57, Poultry - Rule Review
Rule proposed at the August 13, 2019 Commission meeting
Chapter, Chapter 44, Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus - establish a Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) program
Rules proposed at the May 21, 2019 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Three changes: testing, virgin certificate, and written disclosure
Chapter 44, Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus - Establish a Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus control program
Chapter 45, Reportable Disease - Add Bovine Viral Diarrhea as a reportable disease
Chapter 49, Equine - Adds electronic identification as official identification for equine
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Adds electronic identification as official identification for equine moving on equine passports
Rules proposed at the December 11, 2018 Commission meeting
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Removes the Brucellosis test requirement for farmed exotic cervidae to enter the state
Rules proposed at the December 11, 2018 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Rule Review
Chapter 43, Tuberculosis - Rule Review
Chapter 47, Authorized Personnel - Rule Review
Chapter 50, Animal Disease Traceability - Rule Review
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Rule Review
Rules proposed at the August 7, 2018 Commission meeting
Chapter 32, Hearing And Appeal Procedures - Rule Review
Chapter 36, Exotic Livestock and Fowl - Rule Review
Chapter 45, Reportable Disease - Rule Review
Chapter 56, Grants, Gifts and Donations - Rule Review
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures - Rule Review
Chapter 60, Scrapie - Rule Review
Rules proposed at the August 22, 2017 Commission meeting
Chapter 31, Anthrax - Rule Review
Chapter 34, Veterinary Biologics - Rule Review
Chapter 35, Brucellosis - Rule Review
Chapter 37, Screwworm - Rule Review
Chapter 39, Scabies & Mange Mites - Rule Review
Chapter 49, Equine - Rule Review
Chapter 58, Emergency Response & Management - Rule Review
Rules proposed at the May 17, 2017 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Approving a new official Trichomoniasis test
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Addressing Bovine Trichomoniasis requirements to enter the state.
Rules proposed at the December 13, 2016 Commission meeting
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease - Add surveillance, movement reporting, identification, and mortality record keeping requirements for Exotic CWD Susceptible Species
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks - Provide DFTE the discretion to approve inspections, dipping, treatment and/or vaccination requirements
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures - Reference correct rules relating to HUB Program and create new section implementing procedures for private vendor contracts/enhanced contract monitoring
Rules proposed at the August 23, 2016 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Change veterinarian certification period & reduce shipping time for sample submission
Chapter 40, CWD - Repeal existing movement restriction zone section
Chapter 40, CWD - Create new section with movement restriction zones where CWD has been disclosed & add carcass entry requirements
Rules proposed at the May 24, 2016 Commission meeting
Chapter 47, Authorized Personnel - Establish/clarify requirements for persons authorized to perform certain CWD activities
Rules proposed at the February 16, 2016 Commission meeting
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks - Add new section with fever tick vaccine requirements
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks - Repeal Dipping and Treatment of Livestock section
Rules proposed at the October 6, 2015 Commission meeting
Chapter 33, Fees - Repeal Lab Fee & Herd Status/Certification Fee Authority
Chapter 49, Equine - Add new section for persons or laboratories performing EIA tests
Rules proposed at the June 9, 2015 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Change the Trich testing requirements and definition of virgin bull
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks - Official identification of livestock moved from certain fever tick quarantine areas
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Change timeframe CVIs are valid for certain animals entering TX from VS affected states & change in age for breeding bulls that need Trich test to enter TX
Rules proposed at the January 27, 2015 Commission meeting
Chapter 47, Authorized Personnel - Requirements for persons authorized to perform certain activities related to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Shorten length of time CVIs are valid for equine and correct language regarding exceptions
Chapter 55, Swine - Fence and movement requirements for feral swine authorized holding facilities
Rules proposed at the September 16, 2014 Commission meeting
Chapter 40, CWD - Redefine CWD Containment Zone boundary
Chapter 43, Tuberculosis - Change TB testing requirements/redefine Movement Restriction Zone boundary
Chapter 49, Equine - Broaden definition of racetrack facility
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Change entry/identification requirements for swine
Chapter 57, Poultry - Change entry requirements for poultry
Rules proposed at the May 13, 2014 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Change in testing & herd certification requirements
Chapter 39, Scabies - Repeal existing chapter
Chapter 39, Scabies and Mange Mites - Create new chapter to accurately identify contagious skin diseases & include new types of treatment
Chapter 45, Reportable Diseases - Add Novel Swine Enteric Coronavirus Disease(s)
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Change Trich entry requirements and require statement on CVI for entry of non-commercial swine
Chapter 60, Scrapie - Rule Review
Rules proposed at the January 14, 2014 Commission meeting
Chapter 36, Exotic Livestock and Fowl - Rule Review
Chapter 32, Hearing and Appeal Procedures - Rule Review
Chapter 43, Tuberculosis - Add recordation requirement for Mexican origin cattle & new authorized calf ranch/authorized grower facility rule
Chapter 49, Equine - Change in official identification of known equine Piro reactors
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Add recordation requirement for Mexican origin cattle & replace "waybill" with "owner-shipper statement"
Chapter 54, Domestic and Exotic Fowl Registration - Add requirement for fowl confinement at live bird market systems
Rules proposed at the September 10, 2013 Commission meeting
Chapter 47, Approved Personnel - Repeal of Approved Personnel chapter
Chapter 47, Approved Personnel - Creation of new Authorized Personnel chapter
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Add Trichomoniasis test exceptions
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks - Add new authorized treatments for fever ticks
Chapter 50, Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) - Add new cattle identification section
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Amend Trichomoniasis entry requirements for bulls
Chapter 57, Poultry - Add new poultry indemnification requirements
Rules proposed at the May 21, 2013 Commission meeting
Chapter 35, Brucellosis - Remove permanent ID requirement/add entry requirements for cattle from Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
Chapter 39, Scabies - Include new types of treatment for Chorioptic Mange
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) - Revise requirements to address changes in interpretation of the federal CWD program
Chapter 43, Tuberculosis - Include new types of TB tests for captive cervids
Chapter 50, Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) - Create new ADT chapter
Rules proposed at the January 15, 2013 Commission meeting
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) - Create new section entitled Movement Requirements for CWD Susceptible Species
Chapter 41, Fever Ticks - Create new requirement that cattle maintained in the Permanent Quarantine Zone be officially identified and inspected annually
Chapter 55, Swine (PRV) - Update testing timeframes for releasing swine quarantined for exposure to PRV
Rules proposed at the September 18, 2012 Commission meeting
Chapter 33, Fees - Create new CVI Fee section
Chapter 35, Brucellosis - Add exception to ID requirement for adult slaughter cattle
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Proposed changes to Trich control program
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) - Proposed changes to current CWD requirements and add new ED Declaration of CWD Movement Restriction Zone section
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Proposed change to Trich testing and Cervidae entry requirements
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures - Repeal of CVI Fee section (moved to Chapter 33)
Chapter 59, General Practices and Procedures - Create new ED Declaration of High Risk Disease Movement Restriction Zone section
Rules proposed at the June 5, 2012 Commission meeting
Chapter 40, CWD - Create CWD movement restriction zone(s) in the Trans Pecos Region
Chapter 43, Tuberculosis - Define dairy calf ranches as high risk for disease transmission
Chapter 45, Reportable Diseases - Add Schmallenberg virus to list of reportable diseases
Chapter 49, Equine - Classify an area or county as high risk for equine exposed to Piroplasmosis
Rules proposed at the January 24, 2012 Commission meeting
Chapter 35, Brucellosis - Testing & Change of Ownership Requirements
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Proposed Changes Regarding Sheep, Goats, Swine, & Cattle
Rules proposed at the September 20, 2011 Commission meeting
Chapter 53, Market Regulations - Proposed Market Identification
Chapter 33, Fees - Proposed Laboratory Fees
Chapter 33, Fees - Proposed Herd Disease Free Status Fees
Rules proposed at the July 19, 2011 Commission meeting
Chapter 33, Fees - Proposed foreign cattle inspection fee
Rules proposed at the May 24, 2011 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Proposed change to definitions, testing requirements, and herd certification program section
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Proposed change to entry requirements for out of state breeding bulls
Chapter 59, Certificate Of Veterinary Inspections - Proposed change to amount charged for CVIs
Rules proposed at the February 22, 2011 Commission meeting
Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) - CWD Monitoring Program
Chapter 49, Equine - Piroplasmosis testing
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Equine Passports issued by specific states
Chapter 54, Domestic and Exotic Fowl Registration - Fowl Registration fees
Rules proposed at the June 15, 2010 Commission meeting
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - Amendments to the Requirements
Chapter 41, Fever Tick - Use of Herd Plans
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - Cattle
Rules proposed at the March 23, 2010 Commission meeting
Chapter 35, Brucellosis - View Proposal
Chapter 38, Trichomoniasis - View Proposal
Chapter 49, Equine - View Proposal
Chapter 51, Entry Requirements - View Proposal
Chapter 54, Domestic and Exotic Fowl Registration - View Proposal